The world could be on the verge of getting its first malaria vaccine called RTS,S. Results of previous clinical studies have shown that RTS,S reduced the risk of malaria infection by 53% over eight months, and 65% over six months, in children and infants, respectively (Discovery News 18-Oct-11).
“Over 50 per cent of new drugs being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration are in biologics,” said Ms. Teresa Stanek Rea, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (The Hindu Business Line 14-Oct-11).
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 17–37% of providers expose vaccines to improper storage temperatures, which can diminish the levels of a drug’s active ingredient and, ultimately, hinder its effectiveness (Pharmaceutical Technology Europe 1-July-11).
India is primed to become a hub for clinical research and clinical outsourcing activities. In a recent global study by Pharma IQ entitled “BRIC Clinical Trials: Opportunities and Challenges”, over half of the survey participants 53.5 % identified India as the BRIC country with the greatest opportunities for clinical trials (Pharma IQ October 2011).
A universal flu vaccine? The Institute for Research and Biomedicine in Bellinzona, Switzerland found the first ever antibody that reacts to all 16 subtypes of the influenza virus, including group 1 and group 2 viruses. Such a vaccines was completely out of reach a few years ago, however now seems possible within the next 5 years! (The Scientist Magazine 28-Jul-11).
The biopharmaceutical market should reach $100 billion by the end of the decade – implying a conservative average annual growth rate of $14% (Analyst firm ASInsights).